Cryptology ePrint Archive: Report 2009/472

Cryptanalysis of a Message Recognition Protocol by Mashatan and Stinson

Madeline Gonzalez and Rainer Steinwandt

Abstract: At CANS 2008, Mashatan and Stinson suggested a message recognition protocol for ad hoc pervasive networks. The protocol provides a procedure to resynchronize in case of a (possibly adversarial) disruption of communication. We show that this resynchronization process does not provide the functionality intended and in fact enables an adversary to create selective forgeries. The computational effort for the attack is negligible and allows the insertion of arbitrary messages.